Registration

A citizen of the United States for at least one month before the next primary, special, municipal, or general election.

A resident of Pennsylvania and the election district in which you want to register and vote for at least 30 days before the next primary, special, municipal, or general election.

At least 18 years of age on or before the day of the next primary, special, municipal, or general election.[2]

”

When and where

The deadline for registering to vote is 30 days before an election. Registration can be done in person or by mail. There are two ways to register by mail:[1]

“

Get a Voter Registration Mail Application form from the state or federal government. The Secretary of the Commonwealth and all county registration commissions supply Voter Registration Mail Applications to all persons and organizations who request them, including candidates, political parties and political bodies and other federal, state and municipal offices.

Download the Voter Registration Application. Print, complete, sign and deliver to your County Voter Registration Office by mail or in person.[2]

”

—Pennsylvania Department of State

Voters can register in person at their County Voter Registration Office, the Department of Transportation, or any of the following locations:[1]

“

State offices that provide public assistance and services to persons with disabilities

Armed Forces Recruitment Centers

County Clerk of Orphans' Court offices, including each Marriage License Bureau

Area Agencies on Aging

Centers for Independent Living

County Mental Health and Mental Retardation offices

Student disability services offices of the State System of Higher Education

Online registration

As of March 2015, Pennsylvania is one of 30 states that have not implemented full online voter registration. Pennsylvania had a bill pending in the 2013 legislative session which would have authorized online voter registration. On April 17, 2013, the Pennsylvania State Senate passed the bill. However, as of January 2015 that bill had not been passed by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.[3][4]

Voting on Election Day

Voter identification

A law requiring all Pennsylvania voters to present photo identification was signed into law by Governor Tom Corbett in March 2012.[5] On July 25, 2012, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court heard a challenge against the law from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other voting rights groups.[6] On August 16, 2012, Judge Robert Simpson dismissed challenge.[7] Supporters and opponents next argued the validity of the voter ID law before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on September 13, 2012.[8] On September 18, 2012, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued a 4-2 per curiam (unsigned) decision that sent the case back to the trial court.[9][10] The state's high court asked the trial court "to ensure there is 'liberal access' to new voting-only IDs and there will be 'no disenfranchisement' of voters on Nov. 6."[11] In response, a judge ruled that the Pennsylvania voter ID law could remain intact for the 2014 general election.[12] However, a narrow injunction permitted those without IDs to cast a ballot.[13] The state's voter ID law was also not enforced for the May 2013 primary election.[14] On January 17, 2014, Judge Bernard McGinley of the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court struck down the requirement that all voters must present photo identification, claiming that this part of the law was unconstitutional because it lacked a way to give voters liberal access to voter photo IDs. These photo IDs had to be obtained through Department of Transportation licensing centers, of which there were only 71 across the state at the time, many with limited hours. Judge McGinley argued that this was an inconvenience to voters and could easily disenfranchise them. The ruling did not strike down the entire law, but it did prohibit the state from enforcing the photo ID requirement.[15] On January 27, 2014 lawyers on behalf of Gov. Tom Corbett filed a request that Judge Bernard McGinley reconsider his ruling to strike down the voter ID requirement.[16] McGinley denied the request.[17] On May 8, 2014, Corbett announced that he would not be appealing the court ruling and would instead work with the Pennsylvania State Legislature to work on changes to the original law.[18]

Absentee voting

Eligibility

A voter is eligible to vote absentee in an election if he or she cannot make it to the polls on Election Day for one of the following reasons:[23]

“

A person who is or may be in the military service of the United States, regardless of whether at the time of voting the person is present in the election district of residence or in the Commonwealth and regardless of whether he or she is registered to vote.

A spouse or dependent residing with or accompanying a person in the military service of the United States and who expects on Election Day to be absent from his or her municipality of residence during the entire period in which the polling places are open for voting (7 a.m. to 8 p.m.).

A member of the Merchant Marine and his/her spouse and dependents residing with or accompanying the Merchant Marine, who expect on Election Day to be absent from the Commonwealth or the municipality of residence during the entire period in which the polling places are open for voting (7 a.m. to 8 p.m.).

A member of a religious or welfare group attached to and serving with the armed forces and his/her spouse and dependents residing with or accompanying him or her, who expect on Election Day to be absent from the Commonwealth or the municipality of residence during the entire period in which the polling places are open for voting (7 a.m. to 8 p.m.).

An individual who, because of the elector's duties, occupation or business (including attendance of college in another county/state, leaves of absence for teaching, vacations and sabbatical leaves), expects on Election Day to be absent from his/her municipality of residence during the entire period the polls are open for voting and the spouse and dependents of such electors who are residing with or accompanying the elector and for that reason also expect to be absent from his/her municipality during the entire period the polls are open for voting (7 a.m. to 8 p.m.).

A qualified war veteran elector who is bedridden or hospitalized due to illness or physical disability if the elector is absent from the municipality of his residence and unable to attend his/her polling place because of such illness or disability, regardless of whether the elector is registered to vote.

A person who, because of illness or physical disability, is unable to attend his/her polling place or to operate a voting machine and obtain assistance by distinct and audible statements. (Note: A disabled elector may be placed on a permanently disabled absentee file.)

A spouse or dependent accompanying a person employed by the Commonwealth or the Federal Government, in the event that the employee's duties, occupation or business on Election Day require him/her to be absent from the Commonwealth or the municipality of residence during the entire period the polls are open for voting (7 a.m. to 8 p.m.).

A county employee who expects that his Election Day duties relating to the conduct of the election will prevent the employee from voting.

A person who will not attend a polling place on Election Day because of the observance of a religious holiday.[2]

”

—Pennsylvania Department of State

Deadlines

A request to vote by absentee ballot must be received no later than 5 p.m. on the Tuesday before the election. Completed non-emergency absentee ballots must be received by 5 p.m. on the Friday before Election Day. In presidential election years, absentee ballots received after the state deadline but by the time polls close on Election Day will be counted for the offices of president and vice president.[23]

Military and overseas voting

2012 developments

Governor of PennsylvaniaTom Corbett (R) issued an executive order extending the deadline for receipt of completed absentee ballots by the county Board of Elections to 5 p.m. on November 5, 2012. The extension applied to those counties where the Board of Elections was closed due to Hurricane Sandy.[24]